Improving The Home

Category: Education Reform

I was appointed to serve as the Secretary of Education in February. I have actively participated in education policy for more than thirty years. I have been unequivocal about education reform and the need for every parent to have reasonable choices on their children’s education. I chose to set the pace for the reform movement in the education sector long before I came here.

My political career started in college. I have been in charge of various political campaigns, political action committees, the Republican Party in Michigan and many other party groups and political activities. My husband, Dick DeVos, ran for the governor position in Michigan in 2006.

Besides my cabinet position, I am involved in running our family business, the Windquest Group, an investment management firm I co-founded with my husband in 1989 in Michigan. Through the business, we have interests in technology, clean energy, and manufacturing among other sectors.

Betsy Devos have served as a mentor in Michigan public schools. This gave me insightful exposure to the various elements in the education system and refreshed my perspective on education. I support frameworks that empower parents to choose where their children learn. Where you live or how much income you have should not be the deciding factor in the quality of education your children receive. They should be guaranteed of top-notch education that puts them on the global map to realize successful careers.

I am also passionate about aligning higher education to the needs of the job market. I stand for choice in education. I have held various management roles in the education sector. I head the American Federation for Children. I am also associated with the Alliance for School Choice. I played a key role in getting Michigan to pass the first charter-school law in 1993.

I established a political action committee to push for education reform in Michigan to expand charter schools in 2001. My experience through the political action committee enabled me to take on the challenge to a national level. I remain optimistic about education reform, and its benefits to parents. The education reform movement is quickly gaining ground as more states sign up to our programs.

To achieve success, we need to mobilize informed lawmakers. We must empower them to champion our cause, pass the necessary laws and follow through with the implementation. I believe my efforts are part of a holistic plan to provide better education to children in America. Visit Betsy’s profile page on Facebook.

In addition, I am ardent about uplifting the lives of the underprivileged. To this end, I am in charge of our family foundation, the Dick, and Betsy DeVos Family Foundation. I am also involved with Mars Hill Bible Church, Kennedy Center for the Arts and ArtPrize among other organizations. Read her interview with Philantrophy Table.